More than 1,000 casual and contract workers sat on dharna in front of the office of CGM,Karnataka Circle on 28th August 2013 demanding immediate settlement of long pending issues including payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures like EPF and ESI, reinstatement of retrenched workers etc. The participant came from all the SSAs in the circle, on the call of the BSNL Non-Permanent Workers Union, which is affiliated both to CITU and BSNLCCWF. The CGM office compound was completely full by the agitators, which included a good number of women workers.
Coms. C.K.Gundanna, President of NPWU and also BSNLEU, Karnataka Circle, K.Mahantesh, General Secretary, NPMU, Cheluvaraj, Vice-President, NPWU, Muddiah, senior leader, Sudershan, DS, BSNLEU, Bangalore Telephone District and other leaders addressed the rally. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President of both BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF congratulated the workers and the leaders for the massive dharna and conveyed the revolutionary Greetings of the All India Unions. He briefed the rally about the issues taken the CHQ, deliberations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour to which the issue of casual contract labours has been petitioned by BSNLCCWF, the meeting with the Labour Minister etc. with regard to the demands of the Casual-Contract workers.
A Memorandum by the Circle Union was presented to Shri Chandra Mouli, GM (HR), who assured that the issues will be favorably considered.
My Hearty Congratulation to the Karnataka leaders and workers for the excellent dharna and the unity shown by the regular employees and the contract workers.It is also to be mentioned that the Karnataka workers have improved their wages through sustained struggles and unity. But more are still to won and the unions will jointly work for the same.